He shrugged. ‘I guess I’ll bring him over after breakfast, when we open the tree gifts.’
She gave him a beaming smile. ‘You’re coming to open the gifts too?’
‘Of course. Who doesn’t like gifts?’ His eyes twinkled.
Mary lay back, closing her eyes. ‘Who are you and what have you done with my son?’
Adam laughed. ‘I tied him up and left him in the cabin.’
‘That’s good, because I like you much better.’
He walked over to the side of her bed. His father was still sitting on the other side, watching them fondly. Adam leaned down and pressed his lips to his mom’s forehead, kissing her gently. ‘You should get some rest.’
‘She should,’ his father agreed. ‘It’s been a long day.’
‘But a good day.’ She reached out and grabbed his hand. ‘And it’s been wonderful to have you here with us. After this summer, I never thought I’d see the day…’
Adam swallowed, a lump forming in his throat. ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.’
It was true. Kitty was the catalyst to opening his heart, but it was his family that made it feel full. His parents, Annie, Jonas, all of them were the reasons he felt so comfortable, the reason this felt like home.
Leaning down, he kissed her one last time. ‘Merry Christmas, Mom.’
She squeezed his hand then released it, her eyelids starting to flutter with exhaustion. Her voice was quiet enough that he had to strain to hear her.
‘Merry Christmas, son.’
27
For she had eyes and chose me
– Othello
Jonas had gone to bed without a fuss. The threat of Santa not coming was enough to get the naughtiest of children to crawl beneath their bed covers, and Jonas was no exception. He’d cleaned his teeth, climbed into his snowman pyjamas and then hung his stocking on the end of his bed before hopping onto his mattress and closing his eyes. He’d even waved off Kitty’s offer of a book. The Night Before Christmas was no match for his impatient mind.
She’d waited for an hour before sneaking back in and filling his stocking. An assortment of gifts, brightly wrapped, sp
illing over the top in a satisfying way. Mia and Everett may have lacked many things, but generosity wasn’t one of them.
It was almost midnight by the time she finally climbed the stairs to the loft room. Mia and Everett still hadn’t arrived home. Snow had started to fall again, the flakes sticking to the windowpane and swirling in the beam of the outside lights. She hoped they’d be home soon, that the snow wouldn’t hold them back. That Jonas wouldn’t awaken on Christmas Day to find his parents had no choice but to spend it in Washington, DC.
Walking into her bedroom, she reached out to switch on the light. A figure was sitting on her bed. She jumped, clutching her chest with her palm, her eyes almost popping out of her head.
Adam. It was Adam.
Breathe, Kitty.
‘What are you doing here?’ she whispered. ‘You gave me the shock of my life.’
‘Who were you expecting, Santa Claus?’ He gave her a lopsided grin. ‘You took for ever, by the way. I almost fell asleep.’
‘I was busy,’ she told him. ‘I had to make sure Jonas was asleep before I could put his gifts in his stocking. He still believes in Father Christmas, you know.’
Adam winked. ‘You’re one hell of a sexy Santa. Maybe next time you can wear the suit.’
She raised an eyebrow, liking this playful Adam. ‘Do you have a thing for fat old men?’
He grabbed her, pulling her onto the bed with him. Hooking his leg around her hip, he held her down. ‘I’ve got a thing for you, baby.’ He ran his nose along her jaw, pressing his lips to her throat. ‘Fat, old, I don’t care. I just want to hold you.’